Last August 16, 2006, around 9:30 am, officers and members of TMPCWA went to the DOLE, to submit a letter to Secretary Arturo Brion, requesting for the issuance of the Order with merit to our Motion for Reconsideration filed on July 14, 2006. DOLE’s security guards strongly refused to let the workers to enter the DOLE and one of them suddenly draw his gun and shot 5 times.

Feared of our lives as we try to run up to the 7^th floor where the office of Brion located. The workers shouted informing the DOLE’s employee that they are being shot by the guards. Suddenly some 50 policemen came in and crushed the workers with their guns together with the security guards. Five of our members were seriously wounded because the police beat, kick and hit the workers by their guns in the head. 21 of us were brought to hospital (Ospital ng Maynila) for medical treatment before we brought to the jail. All of the police were not wearing with their nameplate.

In the jail, the chief investigator at the General Assignment Section was very biased when they accepted the complaint of the DOLE’s security personnel but discriminately did not accepted the complaints lodged by the workers. The DOLE’s Security guards and the police investigator agreed to file fabricated charges against 21 TMPCWA members and officers on the following grounds; slight less physical injuries; Assault; damage to properties; illegal entry and inciting to sedition.  

All of us was detained at the Western Police District (WPD) Manila for two nights and three days and only was released on August 18, 2006 at around 5:00 pm under (RFI) ? Released for Further Investigations.

Among of those workers who were put to jail are; ED CUBELO, MELCHOR GONZALES, LARRY ORMILLA, ROMUALDO SIMBORIO, ROMMEL TOLENTINO, REYNALDO CUEVAS, CARLITO PALAMOS, JOHN FAJURA, PETRONIO TACLAN, ALEX CAALIM, FEDERICO TORRES, MANOLITO GERTES, ANGELO GAVARRA, ROWELL DELGADO, VIRGILIO COLANDOG, ROMMEL ARCETA, LESTER ATUN, RICKY BINDOL, JAYSON FAJILAGUTAN, JOSEPH ALICABO AND ROMMEL MARIANO, all are members of TMPCWA.

THE TRUTH BEHIND BEFORE THIS INCIDENT:

After TMPCWA filed the Motion for Reconsideration to the illegal decision of USEC. IMSON. TMPCWA members are always prevented in entering inside the DOLE building to make a follow up. The DOLE is always locking its door and do not entertain our request to meet and have a dialogue to the Secretary Brion.

Because of this situation, we did not know that there was already a result to the M.R. that we filed. On July 31, 2006, we are surprised when we got the copy on August 8, 2006, of the letter signed by Usec. Imson informing ED CUBELO that the Motion for Reconsideration of TMPCWA was denied with finality.

To our dismay, why the Office of the Secretary of DOLE will answer the legitimate and Official Motion for Reconsideration of TMPCWA with a mere unofficial letter of Usec Imson with the Approval of the SOLE addressing ED CUBELO and the Union to informed that the decision is Final? Why not an ORDER why a LETTER?

On august 04, the Office of the Secretary hurriedly releases the ENTRY OF JUDGMENT affirming the June 29, decision of USEC IMSON as final and executory. On July 14, 2006, Philippine Toyota Management started to negotiate a CBA with its company dominated union TMPCLO. Where TMPCWA already has the SUPREME COURT decision with FINALITY since 2004, but why the Company strongly refused to negotiate with us?

This pushed the TMPCWA to go to SOLE, to submit our letter requesting the issuance of an ORDER and not a mere LETTER, but instead of entertain our demand, the SOLE violently dispersed us.

Toyota management for a very long time ignored our very fundamental rights as the only legitimate sole and exclusive bargaining agent for all the rank and file workers of Toyota with LEGAL AND MORAL GROUNDS. 

AFTER the released of 21 officers and members of TMPCWA on the same day August 18, 2006 afternoon, together with our supporters in Souther Tagalog Region, proceeded in front of Toyota Sta. Rosa Plant to stage a condemnation protest action.

TMPCWA promised that we will do it again without fear to be arrested AGAIN AND AGAIN, until such time that the DOLE and Toyota management stop their illegal and dirty scheme against TMPCWA.

CONDEMN THE ILLEGAL AND ANTI-UNION ACTIVITIES OF THE CONNIVING TOYOTA-DOLE AND TMPCLO!

CONDEMN THE ILLEGAL COMPROMISED BARGAINING AGREEMENT ? (CBA) BETWEEN THE YELLOW UNION TMPCLO AND TOYOTA MANAGEMENT!

REINSTATE THE 136 ILLEGALLY DISMISSED MEMBERS AND OFFICERS OF TMPCWA!